Oxford hand a home debut to Craig Cook when they take on Leicester at Cowley in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership tonight.
Cook made an outstanding first appearance for the Spires when he piled up 16 points at Sheffield last Thursday, and he once again lines up at reserve.
Meanwhile the Lions, who suffered a home defeat to Ipswich last time out, will have Sam Hagon making his debut in the Rising Star berth having replaced Joe Thompson.
Leicester manager Stewart Dickson said: “It’s going to be a difficult meeting at Oxford. We do have riders who like that sort of track, but obviously Craig Cook made a brilliant start for them and that will make it tough.
“We need to get some points on the road to make up for losing at home, and hopefully we can do that at one or both of the meetings this week.
“As soon as I contacted Sam on Friday he was up for it, and whilst some riders would say they’re not prepared or ready, he was desperate to come straight in at Oxford on Monday.”
Cook will have former Comet Charles Wright alongside him tonight after they were in opposition on Saturday – Workington v Redcar – at Northside.
Lining-up for Leicester will be Richard Lawson, another former Comet and like Cook from a Moto-X background.
